ACTUALITE |
17.10.2007
Cameroon Braves Intimidation in Morocco
Despite hostility from the home crowd, the Olympic Lions were calm and resolute.
As was expected the match between the Atlas Lions and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon was not an easy one given the hostility of the home crowd and determination of the Moroccan players to take their revenge after the 1-2 defeat conceded in Garoua. The match turned out to be a test of nerves for the Olympic Lions.
Besides the rivalry of talents on the field of play, there was also a sort of psychological warfare with the Moroccan fans determined to dampen the spirit of the Lions and give their team the leeway to obtain the much desired victory.
The atmosphere was electrifying at the Prince Module Abdellah sports complex in Rabat-Morocco. People sang songs, beating drums and shouting to the point that one couldn’t discuss with the neighbour in the stadium without shouting at the top of the voice. The Cameroonian delegation was taunted as they made their way into the stadium with the Moroccan fans promising a resounding victory over Cameroon in the match. The Cameroon national anthem was booed, whistled and jeered and the deafening noise made the playing of the Cameroon national anthem inaudible. On the contrary, the Moroccan anthem was virtually chanted by everyone in the stadium.
On the field of play, the Moroccan players demonstrated the same hostility as they committed a lot of fowl plays to which the Senegalese referee of the encounter turned a blind eye. A case in point is when a Moroccan attacker, deliberately stepped on goalkeeper Amour Tygnyemb’s leg after he came out victorious in a duel with him.
Every nice play from the Cameroon camp was jeered, whereas that of the Moroccans was cheered. People threw objects on the field and petted Cameroonians with any object they could find. As Cameroon got the curtain raiser, the ambiance in the stadium started dwindling and went completely dead after Cameroon got the second goal. Life only returned to the stadium when Morocco reduced score as the crowd went wild with joy.
Despite the open hostility, the Olympic Lions like their coach, Martin Ndtoungou Mpile, were calm and resolute, elaborating a nice system of play that virtually made the effort of the Moroccans to intimidate them, ridiculous.
The little Cameroonian colony in morocco that had been mobilised by the embassy and officials of the Ministry of Sports and physical Education, were drowned by the overbearing crowd of Moroccans since entry in to the stadium was free. However, Cameroon came out victorious in this game of nerves and football though with a draw.
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